​Nepal Airlines to resume flight to Japan in September

Kathmandu. Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is preparing to resume its Japan service in September after a 10-year break with three weekly flights to Tokyo.

The Tourism Ministry on Monday designated seven weekly flights for NAC to Narita International Airport, also known as Tokyo Narita Airport. The national flag carrier wants to fly to Japan after receiving two long-range Airbus A330 jets, one of which arrived on June 28.

“After the government gives the go-ahead, the national flag carrier will formally apply for operating authorization at Narita International Airport with the Japanese government,” said Pramod Nepal, under secretary at the ministry.

NAC spokesperson Rabindra Shrestha said that they would be operating three flights per week to Narita International Airport. “We are making necessary arrangements like appointing general sales agents to begin flights by September.”

Earlier, NAC had begun preparations to operate flights to Kansai International Airport in Osaka as it was not allowed to serve other airports in Japan under the old air service agreement (ASA), said Nepal. On June 18, Nepal and Japan revised the ASA, increasing the number of flights seven-fold from twice weekly to 14 weekly flights with any type of aircraft on a reciprocal basis. The revised ASA also allowed NAC to fly to Narita International Airport and other airports in Japan.

As per the old ASA signed on February 17, 1993, Nepali airlines were permitted to operate 400 weekly seats or two weekly flights out of a single airport. After Nepal and Japan signed the ASA in 1993, the national flag carrier launched its Japan service in 1994, flying to Osakavia Shanghai, China. In 2007, it was forced to suspend the route due to lack of aircraft.